Pimpri-Chinchwad | August 31, 2026
The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has found that 414 of the 674 private hospitals and clinics in the city do not hold a mandatory fire safety compliance certificate, raising concerns about emergency preparedness in healthcare facilities. The civic fire department disclosed the figures after conducting a special inspection drive in May during Fire Safety Week.
According to the department, only 260 private hospitals and clinics have obtained the required fire safety certificate. The remaining facilities have been asked to complete a fire safety audit and apply for certification. The municipal authorities said repeated appeals and notices had been issued to the operators, but 414 had still not obtained the certificate.
The inspection covered key safety systems, including fire alarms, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, fire hydrants, fire lifts and emergency exits. Particular attention was given to intensive care units, oxygen storage areas and other high-risk sections of hospitals, according to the information released by the civic administration.
The municipal fire department also told hospital staff that fire-safety training, regular maintenance of equipment and annual renewal of the no-objection certificate were mandatory requirements. The inspection campaign was conducted to assess whether these systems were available and functioning in the facilities covered by the drive.
Venkatesh Durvas, deputy commissioner of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s fire department, said hospital operators should conduct fire safety audits and apply for the certificate. He added that the fire department would provide the necessary assistance to complete the process. The department said notices and repeated appeals had not resulted in certification by a large number of facilities.
The civic health department said fire audits had been completed for municipal hospitals and that deficiencies identified during those inspections were being addressed. Dr Laxman Gofane, the municipal health medical officer, said corrective work was under way in the civic facilities.
The city has 674 small and large private hospitals and clinics, which have expanded alongside Pimpri-Chinchwad’s growing population. Municipal rules require hospitals to obtain a fire safety certificate from the fire department before beginning operations. The latest inspection found that compliance remains incomplete across a substantial share of the private healthcare network.
The municipal fire department has asked the 414 hospital and clinic operators without certificates to complete their fire safety audits, address identified deficiencies and submit applications for certification. The next step will depend on the operators completing the required compliance process and the civic department assessing their applications.
